davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

The agitation growing out Of tho attempt
to enforce the eight hour law led directly to
the tragedy. As early as May, 1884, tho Or
ganized workinS,nen of Chicago gave notice
that on the lst of May, 1886, they would in
sist upon tho general observance of tho law.
1t is not necessary to detail the numerous
strikes and occasional riots Of tho following
two years in various sections Of tho country;
suffice it, that each one was eagerly seized
upon by the anarchists as fresh proof that
capital was crushing labor.
On April IS, 1885, the new board Of trade
building was formally opened; there wcs u
somewhat riotous popular demonstration
against it, and Ficlden and Parsons addressed
the assemblage in language more inAamnia-
tory than ever before In July, 1885, there
was q general strike OF street car employees
One riot was excited which was only
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
TISCEEn'3 LETTER.


Cook COUNTY JAII, CHICAGO Nov. 4 1887
To Mr. r. J. Oglesby, Govcrnor Of the state OF
Illinois: 'e "a
DEAR SRI am aware that petitions arc be,,o
crcalatco ana signed by the general public esk.
ing you 10 commute the sentence OF death Which
state. Auent this action Of n eympat bizinr, mud
wei meaning portion of the people 1 solSnnIy
aeciarc that 1t has not my sanction. As q man OF
honor, as man Of conscience and as a man OF
pTincipie cannot accept mercy. lam not guilty
OF tho charge in the indctment-of murder
Ton OF which know / am innocent And should
ask mercy on account Of my principles which
honestly believe to be true and noblcY No /
am 10 hypQcrite, and have, therefore, no excuses
70 oHer with regard to being on Anarchist be-
cause the experiences of the past eighteen months
have only siren, thencd my convictiors Tho
question Is, Am Responsible for the death OF the
policemen at the llaymarkets and say no mn.
Jess you assert that every Abolitionist could have
S Esen held Responsible for the deeds of John
History repeats itself As the powers that hc
have ct all times thought that they could sem
the progressive tide by cxterminatiur n few
,kickers, SO do the ruling class OF today innripe
that heJ can put stop to The movement Of
laoor emancipation by banging few az lis atlvo-
Gates. troSress in IT'S vtci orious march has had
70 Overcome many obstacles which seemed in
vincioic, and many OF its spoetes havr died
the death OF martyrs The obstacles Which her
tue road 81 progress today seem ~ be ipvincibIe
700 put taey VIII DO overcome nevertheless
AT all tunes when the condition Of society has
osconie such tina: large portion Of the people
complained OF the existing Injustice the rulin-
classes have denied the truth of these complaints
but nave said that the discomfort Of the portion
OF inc people In question due only 70 the
,rerpieious tnfseEoC' of malicious apitators y
1o'ay' again some people G."ert thai TIE u Il
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

of Iandeck," central Germany; one Of his early
playthings was an cid torture rack with which
the mobiles used to extort money from Jews or
regulate" the peasants, and his favorite haunt
in childhood was en- the edge of deep chasn
into which the robber barons used to throw the
pretty girls of the village whom they had kid
mapped and Of whom they had tired. There lie
grew up aud thence lie came to America to teach
the Anarchistic doctrine reaching the new world
In 1872 and Chicago a year later There he
worked cs an upholsterer for q number of years.
He first showed an interest in the theories Of
Socialism in 1873 and in 1877 Joined himself to the
Lehr und Wchr-V erein. He was attached to The
Arbeiter Zetung in 1880 and succeeded Paul
Grottkau as editor in chief in 1884 Everybody
remembers the attachment that sprung mp be-
tween him and Miss Nina VAN Zandt during the
trial, and which resulted in their marriage ''by
proxy"
Samuel Fiolden was born in Todmorden Ian.
cashre. England, in 1S47. He grew up to be q
laoorcr and Methodist field preacher. In 1868
h. came to America. and soon located in Chicago
where he Joined the Liberal league in 1850; there
he met Spies and Parsons, and thereafter grew
rapidly into anarchial views. Save him and Par.
sons, all the condemned are Germans
Albert r. Parsons is the only native American
among the condemned men. Born in Alabama
In 1913 and carly left an orphan, he was reared
by his brother, who was afterwards the noted
Confederate general, W. II. Parsons. He served
in the Confederate artillery when but IA years
old; but after the war he became q Repub-
Gccn, and Ia 1872 married a woman suspected
Of having negro blood in her VEINS for which
his brother disowned him. Before this he had
been first printer on The Galveston (Tex) News
and late editor of The Waco Tex) Spectator
Because of this marriage he was obliged to leave
Texas, and locating in Chicago he worked in
various printing Offices, but after a time became
. professional labor agitator; was at one time
master workman of District Assembly 81, Knights
OF Labor, and was president of the trades as
scmbly for three years. He was nominated for
tho presidency by the Socialistc party in 1890 but
declined as he was not then IS years of as,e. In
lSt3, at Pittsburg, he helped frame the platform
OF the International Working Peoples associa-
ton. lie was named for city clerk of Chicago by
the Socialists in 1882 and became editor of The
Alarm, the organ of the American Group"
yer liter
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
THE HATEFUL NIGHT.

Ontho evening OF May about 1000 pcople
assembled Tho managers placed tho wagon
Oh which tho speakers wero TO stand q little
?Tcy Up Dcsplaines street from tho Hay
-ncr-e., BY to mouth Of convenient alloy,
ID It po!as where they cosld have q full
view OF the police rs the latter advanced
from their DcSDlaines Street station Mayor
Carter Harrison was in the crowd and ex-
pressed come surprise at the Inildness Of the
frs speakers, Spies and Parsons. Tho crowd
was disappointed, too and was fast melting
away, when Ficldcn took his stand in tie
wagon. Lis most intimate English friends
could not have recognized the mild Mcthc-
dist cyhortor and lahorer OF other DAYS. His
frcaZied defamation excited what remained
of the crowd, and their applause reacted ON
him II IVES testified at the trial that he
called for immediate action in these words:
Arm Arm" Throttle and kill the lawl
Then Inspector Do1ilcld decided 10 disrerse
the meeting. Seven companies of policemen,
III men, il rltoons reaching from curb to
curb, marched from their station of nes-
plane street north 70 the wagon AS thoy
drew near, Fielden is sworn to have shouted:
"iicro come the b!oodhounds; you do your
duty and III 10 minc,''
Capt. Ward, Of the lolics, called OUT:
II TIC nidlse OF toc people OF the state OF
Illinois ] compnld you to peaceably dis
Isrs!"
Fiellen STEPPED down from tho Wagon u1-
claiming:
"Ec arc rsaccab,e:~
TWAS claimed by ths prosecution that the
word "Iaacoable" WIS tie signal agreed on.
Ihcne wns dead sueoce for perhaps ten
1ocond1, tho crowd slowly moving OIL and
Tho police Standing firm, .Shen strange
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
JUST BEFORE TIE TRAGEDY.
Tho evolution Of ITO tragedy WAC curiously

Tho evolution Of ITO tragedy WAC curiously
regular.
First, aS has hotsn SHOW 4, these men TAUGHT
radical socialism, Mex, they organised dis
coatenteQ workingiacn to &C. moro efficiently
IL strikes Tile usual trouble arose: "scabs"
took the place Of striking wor,rlen, they
woro at'i7,;cl BY 10 strikers, the police were
yl.!@r! ca for Profession Ind tho iacvitaSio
GIc5,.oa WIS present 2d--shsu wc fight The
anarchists. il Spoech aid in Tho Arbci.ar
G.etuns, veho'ncntly urecd destructive
n,s,surcS They cxhortcd tho strikers to
AGh: both tho seals" and tho police, Cavo
minute instructions how to use nisro-rlyccrine
and manufacture bombs, and had EARNED
actions" Of their supporters who drilled
Nightly and were instructed il tho use OF
hoIntS
AZ length 1t was boldly announced thu. tho
Anarchists hal 800 armed and vel drilled
Sovo.utionis;s il Chicago, and i: vas proved
that they really had 5000 at this tine, as was
sworn to during the trial. The Arheitcr Eoi-
tang ind The Alarm published many such
Sentiments as these:
DaGgers and repolvc.s Gre easily 70 DO gotten;
hnnd ;srcn.dcs ere caeaply 10 bc produced.
".ll tie worsiasmen supply themselves with
NeAlsons. dynamite aud prussic ecd.
Toe worainSmca oJSht to take uiIn 1t every
mem Der Of tae militia
And while tho writer's acted with what
they probably considered caution, tho e-eak-
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

reached when 73S, 992 Europeans landed in
the United Statos immigration from Eng
land had declined and that from Ireland
fallen to minimum; but from southern
Germany there was an immense increase,
while eastern Europe sent Poles, Bohemions,
Russians. Hungarians and their congeners by
tens Of thousands. In many Of these people
hatred Of government had become heredi-
larry sentiment Chicago became headquar-
.ers for the Disconnected, and The Arbciter
Zeitung tWorkers' Journal their organ. Then
spruhg up in that city the International
Workingmen's association. The platform or
declaration of principles Of this organization,
as was testified to at the trial, urged that
1.-THE present system under which property is
owned by individuals should be destroyed,
and that all capital which has been produced
by labor should be transformed into COM
mon property" The association was divi-
ded into groups" of which there were
eighty in the United States in March, 1885,
locate! principally in the cities of industry.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

bis friends At the close, when asked by the
court if thoy had aught to say why sentence
of death should not be pronounced, they all
made long addresses, those of Parsons and
Fielden being the best. That Of Spies con-
sisted Of pleading and defiance, reasoning ON
liberty and quotations from Scripture. In
the course of his remarks he spoke of Christ
as Socialist Schwab and Neebe gave ar
guments against the regularity Of the trial
Fielden excited some establishment by say
ing: THE great Socialist, Jesus Christ, said
1900 years ago: Better that ninety-nine
guilty men should go unpublished than that
one innocent man should suffer.'n Judge
Gary then sentenced tho seven men to be-
hanged
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
POLICE YICTIMa

fOLlCE SlCTlMA
two miles and deep prolonged roar, echoing
from tho buildinGs-then appalling screams
and volley Of pistol shots. The smo.,e
lifted, and tho ground appeared covered with
siain-but only for an instant Two whole
companies Of police had boon thrown to the
ground, of whom one, Matthias J. began,
was instantly killed, six MORALLY wounded
and sixty others hurt in various degrees
But tho police rallied at cnce and with the
frnness and steadiness Of veterans, they
spran3 forward emptying their revolvers
into tho flying crowd as they went, and fol-
lowing their shots with their clubs they
cicorel tho street in less thnn three minutes
OF all save tho dead and wounded From
alley, gutter and hallway came deep groans
and cursea
Is is estimated that twenty Of the crowd
were killed oad about $50 wounded An An
archist named Kistler was killed by the
bomb Besides Officer Dcgan, killed outright,
the policemen who died Of their wounds were
J. J. Barrett, George Miller, Timothy Tlani-
han, Michael Shcehan, Thomas Rcddin and
Neil Hansen. After the dispersion of the
mob carnc tho saddest scenes Of tho occasion.
Tho dead and wounded policemen were rap
idly conveyed to the station, tho latter made
as comfortable as possible and surgeons
called; but not before their wives and near
relatives hurried there, for bad news flies
fast. Tho tears Of somo, tho so53 and loud
cries of others, tho groans, tho gashcs tho
blood and mangled bodies-all these formed
scene to wiring tho hearts of TIE pitiful.
Within few weeks Chicago had contributed
$4,000 for the care of tho wounded police
AID the relief of their families and those of
the dead.
The bomb used is said to have been Of the
same pattern used to kill the car Of Russia,
ard is very we'll shown in tho initial letter
cut of this account. 1t was made of compo-
siSion metal cups fastened together nearly in
the form of a sphere with bolt and nut.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

was af terw ard
claimed, threw the
bomb, was among
those arrested, but
t he ovid ence
against him was
not deemed sum-
Gent to hold him
and he was re
leased. He imme-
diately left Ameri-
"a and is now sup
posed to 30 il Ger
many. A dolE h
Fischer was one Of
the printers, and on
his person when ar
rested were found
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

On the day after the tragedy tho police de-
seconded on every known Anarchist resort in
Chicago and arrested every suspected man
before morning many had been dragged from
their beds. Every one in Tho Arbeiter
AeitunS ot-lco was arrested: August Spies,
editor in chief; Christ Spies, his brother;
Alchnel Schwab, associate editor; Mrs. Eliz-
abeth May Holmes, editorial contributor;
eighteen printers, two reporters and two
MESSENGERS. Rudolph Schnauhelt, who it
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

Tho Chicago groups were known as the
North Sidc tho Northwest Side, tho Ameri.
can, tho Karl Marx, the Freiheit, the South
west Side and Jefferson No ]. Schwab,
Sccbo and Lings belonged to the North Side
group" Engcl and Fischer to the Northwest
S.dc, and Spies, Parsons and Ficlden to the
American. Tho.o was also an armed social
istic organization called tho Lehr und Wchr-
Ferein, whose members seem to have also
boon members of tho International groups"
but to have been OF n higher rank,
Tho branch OF tho International Working
mems association which exis.t in Chicago
during 1885 and up to May 4, 1886, was com.
pact, well disciplined organization At the
head Of it was general or central commit
tee. Noxt 70 it came tho Lehr und NVehr-
Vcrein. Thsu came the ARMED sections" of
tao various 'groups,' and than camo the IN
armed monbcrs Of tho groups"
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
THE ANARCHISTS SIDE.

Perhaps tho best possible summary Of tho
Anarchists defense of their action and their
belief Is found in tee letters ADDRESSED, By the
condemned to Governor Osiesby, OF Illinois,
extracts from which are given:
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

length. Spies and
Parsons havo writ
ton au t o b / o G.
raphieS and the
condemned III c n,
their families and
Miss Nina Van
Zardt, who mar
rie d Spies by
proxy, havo been
the objects of gen
eral alton ton
since tho tragedy.
Dusky Mrs. Par
s o n s, W h o h O 8
worked 30 hard
for her husbands
life, has become
personally known
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

retired at $50 p n, and at 10 a. m next
day, Aug. ~, returned a verdict Of guilty
against all tho defendants, with q sentence Of
tftess, years in tho renitentiary for Oscar
Necbe, and death for the other seven
The trial began and ended with sensations.
On tho FIRST day A r. Parsons, who had
escaped and baen in hiding, walled into thl
courtroom, r:ro;noel his voluntary sur,
render end tnoi his .'l.co is tho dock with
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

IN many cities by reason Of her speeches in
nus behalf. Mrs. Schnaubclt, mother Of the
alleged bomb thrower, and Mrs. Schwab, her
daughter, were recently brought into special
prominence by reason of tho elder ladys visit
TO America and tho rumor that she had
brought with her full statement of the
facts In tho case from her son. Spies, Fielden
and Schwab finally signed petitions for
oommutation All these things can only
be alluded to here Among other cuts We
give portrait Of Sheriff Matson, of Cool,
county, Ills, who, by virtue Of his Office has
charge OF al cxecp.o;s in Chicago.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
APPEALS TO HIGHER COURTS.

STFcNLo " Tighter COURTS.
The usual application for new trial was
He'd and the entire method of tho trial re-
argued for several days. Tho application be-
ing refused, an appeal was taken to tho
supreme court Of Illinois, and once more the
whole case was thoroughly argued 1t is
needless to detail the legal steps; suffice it
that SO much time was consumed that the
case did not reach the supreme court till
March II, 1887. Then Messrs. Grinnell,
Walker, 1ngham and Attorney General
Hunt, for the state, and Messrs Black, Salo-
mon, Zeisler and Leonard SWEET, for the Dc
Tense, discussed the issues cs to whether the
court below had erred, whether the Annr-
chists had been legally condemned to death
for nero conspiracy, whether the jury was
properly constituted and many others.
The weight of argument before the
supreme court turned upon the proper con,
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
ARREST, TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
Judgment Of the Illinois Courts Affirmed
by tho Nations Supreme Tribunal.
Portraits and Sketches of the Police, the
Judges, the Jury, tho Convicted and
Other Interested Persons-Pictures Of
the Scene Of tho Tragedy, Court Scenes,
Etc.-Closing Events of the Drama
They State Their Case.
ANARCHY IN AMERICA.

DON after the close
Of the civil war in
the United States
immigration, a l.
ways of no moan
prop or ito n g, il
creased rapidly.
1t was thcu tho
American public
first began to hear
much Of comilun-
ism, socialism and
anarchisIn. In 1888
the maximum was
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

sUfELME COURT ILLINOIS.
struction of the two sections in tho revised
statutes Of illinois chapter 49, div. 9, sections
2 and 81, which abolish tho previous tlistinc-
ton between principal and accessory, and
provide that any one who. mot being pres
sent, hath advised, encouraged, aided or
Allotted, shall be considered as
principal and /" may he punished as
such, whether tho principal is convicted or
not" On tao 1tth Of September tho court
rendered an opinion, which Ellis twenty-o1e
closely printed columns, and is an exhaustive
exposition of the law, fully confirming the
decision Of the court below. And SO the pris-
oncrs were sentenced to DO hanged on the
1lth Of November, 1887. Another hopo re-
NAMED. Gen. Roger A. Pryor, Gen. Benja-
min F. Cutlcr and Lon. Randolph Tucker were
employed as experts in constitutional law,
end an appeal made to tho supreme court q
the United States, the chief allegation being
that the accused had rot been tried by On
Impartial jury" as required by tho national
constitution. The revised statutes of Illinois
permit the choice of q jurymen who has
formed an opinion from reading newspaper
accounts OF the case, provided he makes oath
that bis opinion is not such cs could not DO
ovcrthrown by evidence. The question of
tho taking Of a letter without warrant from
Spies desk wcs also brought up.
The supreme court of tho United States
rendered its decision on the Cd Of November,
holding, in brief, that the jury law Of Illinois
does not contravene any provision of the ma
tienal constitution, and that to question Is
to whether the state constitution and laws
had been strictly observed was ono for the
state courts alone. The court confined itself
very strictly to the case before it, entering
into the general questions raised only 60 far
as absolutely necessary. But two points,
therefore, were passed upon in regard to the
amendments Tho court held that the first
ten amendments limit the powers of tho Fed
eral government, not the powers Of state
over its citizens; and that the Fourteenth
amendment has not changed the rule in that
respect. In all other matters the court holds
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

In 1857, enlisted in
the Twelfth Illinois
at the outbreak CT
the war, and served
TIL the last Confed-
crate had laid down
his arms. He went in
as q corporal and
came out q captain.
July o, 1867, he was
first enrolled rs a po-
iiceman, and In Oc-
tobcr, 1885, he was at
the head Of the force.
In the army hc was
Ic0 days under fire
in battle or SkirmiSh.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.

that 1t has no jurisdiction, as the questions
os to violating the national constitution were
not raised or argued in the Illinois court.
Therefore,, o writ OF error could not issue
OF tho various appeals and petitions and
meetings protesting against tho execution of
tho Anarchists we have not room to spoek ut
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

family moved to Chicago, where John learned
the trade Of q machinist and nfterward became q
locomotive engineer. In 1877 he became a police
man and rose rapidly In rank.
Superintendent of Police Frederick J. Ebersold
was born In Bavaria in I941, emigrated to Illinois
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
The CONDEMNED MEN.

Brief biographical sketches OF the con-
denncd are here givon
August Theodore Vincent Spies pronounced
Specs is cred ted with be ne the brains of tie
movement. lie has given his experience in III
autobiography VIII Oh is regarded as the worl; Of
genius by his friends. and as eloquent insanity
in print by those who are opposed to him lie
WAS born Dec. TO- 1850 in the "old robbers castle
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

era uaei language
OF u very inilcu,-
Ea1.y Character.
Sill, thon III ono Of
the Chicago papers
had predicted se-i-
o4S trou5io, to
meetings ~tl'o hot
su...roGS.l. but
Ero rick Ebcr-
Sid, t-ncriot1ld.
ant- aIel John bon
..ic h, inspector OIL
police, wero vel
aware of the extent
Of tho tliscoutcnh
an | II ,Go tho most
4, v~o.r. thn .n,,. ,N-a,I
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

1NipHGUo IlO1'U ilIuIiS 20 fI.c[J INC OOt tlTGlt
~heo /. cboala con-,
Coit. John Donticid, who assumed the ;,esp,n
saiity On t,e uie t q tie tragedy, as OF the lny
~ lhe Previous riot va. born in issc IA Ne
E-lasssci, IDS f-t'sr bling SA,auty Char, Irish
lA1 lstelJ A-;iyai J. ti.=t prosi c. i. K :. g.,
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

oEsrLAIHCs STREET srA-1oH-BRINGISG IS
TIE WOUNDED.
Tho word "Ruhen German for Peace
alleged 70 have been agreed upon as the sig
aal for i:nIacdiato revolution, also appeared
in that nuraher of the paper.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15
INTERIOR OF THE JAIL.

INTERIOR OF THE JAIL
So say society may hang a number OF disc4.
pies of progress who have disrterestedly served
the cause of the sons of toll which is the cause
of humanity, but their blood will work miraclcs
in bringing about tie downfall Of modern society
and In fastening the birth Of new era of civil.
cation.
Magma est vcritas ct prevaiebet
ApCI PIT FISCuEp
, 1887-06-15

0HENHOLD til Anordning af lode
August 1874, bekjendtgjores her
we'd, at .jeg har modtaget Anmeldel'
SO fra Herr Kjobmand JAMES W.
ROCHE ON, at han har tilbagekaldt
den Herr PHILIP L. ROCHEunder
2den Januar 1884 meddelte Fuld-
magt SAINT at han under 7de dennes
har bemyndiget bemeldte PHILIP
l.. ROCHE til under hans Frav@-
relse her fra Den at modtage og
kvittere SAINT we'd Retterne indtaIe
allie ham tilkommende FOrdringer,
ligesom nRvnte =. T.. ROCHE
Ogsaa Ell bemyndiget til hans Navn
at udstede Anvisninger paA ST.
Thoma Banks Agentskab, men er
fornavnte p. l.. ROCHE like
bemyndiget til for JAMES w.
ROCHE at indkj0be Varor paa
Credit elIer i hans Navn at indgaa
nogensomhelst Forpligtelse med
Undtagelse af Contractor med
Gouvernementet a%ngaaende Leve
RANGER til Arresthuset og dc konge-
lige Plantager.
Christianstcds Politikammer, st. CrOix
den 14de Juni 1887.
MAXEN,
est.